Camera Labs

Please find the list of my Pentax K10D Related User Reviews.
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Bonjour,

At last, after many, many months of patience, the Pentax DA * 16-50mm F2.8 ED/AL (IF) SDM has finally arrived

I hope to post something next week.

Stay tuned

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

Congrats Rei! Looking forward to hearing what you think!

Enjoy the new lens! Look forward to a review.

Bonsoir,

This Saturday was sunny, so I could test my new lens.

1. First hands-on
2. DA* 16-50mm versus DA 18-55mm
3. First pictures
4. DA* 16-50mm picture comparison versus DA 18-55mm
5. Aperture test
6. Pros and cons and wrap-up
7. More pictures
8. Depth of Field Test

Please note that the pictures shown are un-retouched.
During the test, I had to change from Flickr to Picasa, adding some troubles with links .
Here we go

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

1- First hands-on

The SMC DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM is an impressive piece of manufacturing. It's heavy, dense, solid.


The SMC DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM and the SMC DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM share the same rings : one green, another gold.

What a name! This lens is packed with so much technology!

SMC = super multi coating
ED = Extra-low Dispersion
AL = Aspherical Lens
IF = Internal Focus
SDM = Supersonic Direct-drive Motor

The lens comes with a rear cap, a front cap (of a new and better kind, with inner handling), a hood and a soft case.

A first ring is for zooming, the second for manual focus. Both rings are large and comfortable.


Due to its relatice heavyness, the 16-50 requires care when fixing and unfixing it to the K10D. That's not easy, since the fixed part between the two ring is not very large. The usual orange dot is here.

When fixed, the center of gravity remains close to the K10D. Also, the 16-50 weight isn't as heavy as the 50-135, so handling the K10D + 18-50mm lens remains easy and confortable.


Contrary to the 50-135mm, the lens does move outside in accordance with the zoom.


A dedicated button switches the auto-focus on and off and is logically connected with the AF selector on the K10D (continuous, single, off). Once again, Pentax ergonomics are great.

SDM motor is quiet and fast. Actually so quiet that I strongly recommend to set the bip on for focus, through MENU > Preferences > Sound > Focus.

A small windows gives the distance in metric and imperial units.

All this comes at a price. The weight of the K10D and the 16-50mm combined reaches 1,4 kg / 3,1 lb. Operating the camera with one hand is still possible but I recommend using both hands or, even better, the BG2 grip. Total weight is then pushed up to 1,7 kg / 3,7 lb! Another consequence is the need of a stronger bag.

Needless to remind that K10D firmware needs to be updated to 1.30. However, the box reads


Note 1 : All the picture are available here
NOTE 2 : Obviously, the pictures weren't taken with the K10D but with a point-and-shoot digicam. I apologize for the poor quality .

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

2- DA* 16-50mm versus DA 18-55m

The lens connectors

We see: 1 more connector on the outer metal ring and 2 more connectors on the inner dark ring. The screw head for focusing remains in the DA*.

Left, the DA connector; right, the DA* connector


The front cap

Left, the DA front cap; right, the DA* front cap, easier to handle.



Comparison

Clockwise from top left : the DA at 18mm, 35mm, 45mm and 55mm


Clockwise from top left : the DA* at 16mm, 28mm, 35mm and 50mm


The DA* does move!By the way, I realize how compact the DA 18-55mm is.

Both lenses at min
Left, the DA; right, the DA*


Both lenses at max
Left, the DA; right, the DA*


I apologize for the quality of the pictures: they weren't taken with a K10D and a DA* lens

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

3- First pictures

I think it's time for some pictures. Here are the first shots I did yesterday.

All the pictures were taken in Chartres, where there'i a beautifull cathedral, in green mode or P mode.

My very first picture
1/250 f5,6 16mm ISO 100


1/250 f4 50mm ISO 100


See how the light is captured: that's simply amazing
1/90 f4 50mm ISO 100


1/90 f4 50mm ISO 100


Now, indoors. This is a test for back-focus reported in some forums. No such a case for me, I'm lucky
1/2 f4 50mm ISO 1600, with shake reduction


That's another clear example of the winning combination of shake reduction, small f value and high ISO brough by rthe K10D and DA* lens.
0.7s f4 45mm ISO 1600, also with shake reduction


You could find other pictures of the cathedral of Chartres here.

Since today's is rainy , we should wait for next Saturday for the DA 18-50mm versus DA 16-50mm picture comparison.

Stay tuned

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

Great review. Very detailed and informative.

Hi Rei, great stuff so far! Looking forward to the rest!

PS - you'll see there's a link to your K10D user review on our front page!

Bonjour Gordon,

Yes, I noticed the link on the front page, clicked on, and was surprised to read my own post

Congratulations for the new look, it's nicier and easier.

I'm really surprised by the 10,000 views on my K10D user review I hope Camelabs could obtain the DA* lenses and publish a full review, they're just splendid.

Best regards,

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

The zoom-in / zoom-out seems to be not as smooth as for the DA* 50-135mm.

Clockwise from top left : the DA* at 16mm, 28mm, 35mm and 50mm


There’s a slight resistance starting at 28mm, when zooming-in if the lens points upside. It's the effort of pushing the inside barrel outside.

Similarly, there’s the same slight resistance at 35mm, when zooming-out if the lens points downside. It's the effort of pulling the inside barrel inside.

It might be caused by the fact the lens is bold new. However, best solution is to keep the lens straight vertical.

Weather permitting, I hope to post the next instalments (DA* 16-50mm picture comparison versus DA 18-55mm and aperture tests) next week

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

4- DA* 16-50mm picture comparison versus DA 18-55mm

The pictures were shot on JPEF and no picture was post-processed. The center and top right crops are 600x600. I was expecting much more difference between both lenses. Maybe the explanation is the weather, somehow foggy.

DA not available - DA* - 16,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100







left: DA - 18,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100 - right: DA* - 19,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100







left: DA - 35,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100 - right: DA* - 34,0 mm - 1/350 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100







left: DA - 50,0 mm - 1/750 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100 - right: DA* - 50,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100







DA - 55,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100 - DA* not available
Sorry, this picture is blurred







The DA* lens provides superior quality: less chromatic aberration and crispier images.

All the picture are available at my album, now under Picasa.

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

5- Aperture test

I performed two series of tests, one at 16mm, the other at 50mm, to check vignetting. See by yourself

At 16mm

16,0 mm - 1/2000 sec - f2,8 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/1500 sec - f3,5 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/1000 sec - f4 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/750 sec - f4,5 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/350 sec - f6,7 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/250 sec - f8 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/180 sec - f9,5 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/125 sec - f11 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/90 sec - f13 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/60 sec - f16 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/45 sec - f19 - ISO 100


16,0 mm - 1/30 sec - f22 - ISO 100



At 50mm

50,0 mm - 1/2000 sec - f2,8 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/1500 sec - f3,5 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/1000 sec - f4 - ISO 100

The vignetting seen in previous pictures has disappeared.

50,0 mm - 1/750 sec - f4,5 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/350 sec - f6,7 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/250 sec - f8 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/180 sec - f9,5 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/125 sec - f11 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/90 sec - f13 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/60 sec - f16 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/60 sec - f19 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/60 sec - f22 - ISO 200

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

6- Pros and cons and wrap-up

Pros

• Build high quality
• Silent and fast AF
• Lens and image quality
• In-door versatibilty

Cons

• Some light vignetting

Wrap-up

• With this new lens, we're dealing with truly professional gear. I would say, as for the DA* 50-135mm, that the DA* 16-50mm is the lens the K10D was waiting for.
• As always with Pentax, ergonomics and ease of use are great. The weight and size of the lens are normal.
• During my test today, I haven't felt the limitation to 50mm and haven't missed the extra zoom provided by the DA 18-55mm.
• Most important, image quality is here and I had a lot of fun.

I hope Gordon and his team will test vignetting, chromatic aberration and many more technical parameters, so CameraLabs readers will get a full picture of this new lens

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

7- More pictures

39,0 mm - 1/250 sec - f6,7 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/60 sec - f2,8 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/180 sec - f4,5 - ISO 100


50,0 mm - 1/180 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100

See how the water is captured: amazing

16,0 mm - 1/125 sec - f6,7 - ISO 100


45,0 mm - 1/500 sec - f5,6 - ISO 100

This is a dangerous place to take pictures with a Pentax: competition is watching

_________________
--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com